“An apple a day keeps the doctor away…”
The famous phase ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ originates from 19th century Wales, but it could still be true today. Apples are great if you’re always on the go as they are easy to fit into even the smallest handbag and are available on almost any high street.
Last week was World Apple Day so to celebrate the great small round fruit here are some facts you may, or may not know, about apples:
1. Scientists have proved that apples contain cancer fighting properties and regularly eating the fruit can help reduce your chances of developing colon cancer. When scientists[1] exposed cancer cells to the antioxidants found in apples the infected cells produced signals that lead to their death. Apple skins are high in fibre and it has been proved that increasing your fibre intake can help prevent bowl cancers[2].
2. Lab experiments have shown that apples could potentially prevent dementia. When a person suffers from dementia the communication between cells in their brain reduces resulting in a loss of mental performance. Mice that regularly drank apple juice increased their production of neurotransmitter acetylcholine which helps increase brain activity by passing information between different cells[3].
3. Compared to other fruits apples are great as an after lunch snack. Apples contain much less sugar than fruits like pears, plums and oranges which means they are much better for your teeth. Their hard texture helps remove plaque and encourages your mouth to produce more saliva which improves the quality of your breath.
4. Drinking apple juice can help prevent asthma symptoms. Studies have shown children, suffering from asthma, who drank apple juice every day suffered less wheezing than children who only drank the juice once a month. Children whose mothers ate a lot of apples during their pregnancy experienced lower rates of asthma compared to children whose mothers had eaten less of the fruit while pregnant[4].
5. Apples are able to help diabetes sufferers manage their symptoms. The pectin found in apples helps supply the body with galacturonic acid which reduces the need for insulin. Regularly eating apples can help sufferers manage their blood sugar levels[5].
Ben Thompson is the managing director of Fruitdrop who specialise in fruit delivery in London.
[1] http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20041018/apple-day-for-cancer-prevention
[2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3752806.stm
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apples#Health_benefits
[4] http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-apples.html
[5] http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-apples.html
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